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SALT LAKE CITY — A citation issued this week places fault on the University of Utah for a steam blast in a tunnel that sent 12 people to the hospital, some in critical condition.
The citation, which was issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration following a months-long investigation, states that "the University of Utah did not inspect or designate a competent person to inspect frequently for the unsafe condition of an open-ended high temperature water pipe in a tunnel system" located at 300 S. 1850 East in Salt Lake City.
Twelve men were sent to the hospital on Nov. 1 after being scalded while working on the pipeline at the U. The pipe involved had been closed since July 2009 and crews were working to insulate an open-ended portion of the pipe when the tunnel they were working in filled with searing steam. Many of those injured suffered severe burns and three were critically injured.
The citation classifies the violation as "serious," which describes an incident grave enough to result "in death or serious physical harm." But the citation does not call for any penalty other than requiring the university to fix the problem.
The OSHA investigation showed that the open-ended pipe had not been capped and was still connected to a valve system that was set to automatically open in the event of a power failure. On Nov. 1, there was such a failure that caused the valve to open, releasing water into the pipe at a temperature of 400 degrees and a force of 400 pounds per inch.
When the water hit the air, it vaporized into steam and traveled into the tunnel where the 12 men were working, "resulting in severe burns," the citation states. Some of the victims have contacted attorneys, who are pursuing a civil lawsuit.
Two separate contractors who were interviewed said U. personnel told them that the pipe in the tunnel was abandoned, which they said typically means "the pipe was not in use, was not to be used again and that it was disconnected from its source."
Given that information, the contractors didn't cap the pipe.
According to the citation, the pipe was actually inactive and still attached to the greater valve system.
"On November 1, 2010, the electrical power … was interrupted and the electronic actuator of the valve system, which was still attached to an energized electrical panel and set to open in the event of a power failure, opened and caused the release of hot water and steam through the open-ended pipe."
William Adams, operations manager for OSHA in Utah, said the citation was the only action that will come out of the investigation. Though other entities were investigated, including the companies whose employees were in the tunnel — Thermal West Industrial Inc. and KK Mechanical — no citations will be issued against them.
"We looked at them, we talked to them, we probably wrote a narrative on them, but they didn't do anything to violate OSHA standards," Adams said.
Because the University of Utah is a public entity, Adams said there will be no monetary penalty. The citation simply requires that the citation be posted "in a prominent place" for three days or until the violation has been taken care of — "whichever is longest."
The U. has 30 days to contest the citation. If the school does not contest the citation, it is required to submit a notification to OSHA showing that it has taken steps to correct the problem.
In just the most recent Legislative session, the U. sought $50 million in funding to update its aging electrical grid and to repair high-temperature water pipes like the one involved in the November incident.
The U. was hoping the Legislature would bond for at least $10 million to get the project started, but no bonding was approved, a move U. President Michael Young said would be "a tragedy for the state."
Kate Ferebee, a spokeswoman for the U., said the university's environmental health and safety department is currently reviewing the citation.
"It's a high priority for us," she said.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
